A diver shows, in this May 2013 photo, a crown of thorns starfish removed from the coral reef in Batangas City. | CDN file
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) has recommended to the Office of the Governor that a crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak be declared in Cebu province.
This after at least 50 marine protected areas (MPAs) in 14 local government units have been observed with high proliferation of the crown-of-thorns starfish, which is known to damage coral reefs.
Read more: Population control: DENR removes crown-of-thorns starfish in Moalboal seas
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the increase in the number of crown-of-thorns starfish in the MPAs is due to the high temperature experienced because of the weak El Niño.
Crown-of-thorns tends to populate during summer, infesting coral reefs, which serve as their food.
Tribunalo said that with Penro’s recommendation to declare a crown of thorn outbreak, the office also moved to set aside an initial P1.3 million budget to be used for the removal of the crown of thorns.
Tribunalo said the activities for the removal of the crown of thorns will be integrated with the cash for work and food-for-work program, which they intend for fisherfolks and farmers who lost income due to the dry spell.
PDRRMO earlier reported an estimated of P100 million damage to agriculture and fisheries because of the prevailing dry season. /bmjo